Nayagarh, May 2: (Report- Ramakrushna Rath): The Nayagarh district branch of the Utkal Journalists Association held a protest meeting and an executive committee meeting. This event took place on Labour Day at the Nayagarh Journalist Bhavan. Srikant Khatei, the president of the district branch, organised the event. The journalists gathered to unit, fight for their rights, and discuss their long-standing demands.
Bibhuti Bhusan Kar, the State President of the Utkal Journalists Association, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Pabitra Maharatha, an advisor to the association, joined the event as the guest of honour. Before the main discussion started, the members observed a moment of silence. They prayed for Debaprasad Mishra, the former president of the association, who recently passed away. Following this, Baidyabhusan Mohapatra, the district branch secretary, read the official report and started the discussion on the rights of media workers.
To mark Labour Day, hundreds of journalists at the Nayagarh meeting wore black badges as a sign of peaceful protest. Media workers across the entire state also wore black badges to show solidarity. Earlier, on April 29, journalists from all districts submitted official letters of demands to their respective District Collectors. They directed these letters to the Chief Minister of Odisha. Members in the Nayagarh district submitted these letters at the district headquarters and in all local blocks.
State President Bibhuti Bhusan Kar delivered a clear speech to the attendees. He reminded the current Chief Minister about past promises made to the press community. Kar expressed disappointment because the government has not introduced new welfare programs for media workers since taking power. He pointed out that many other states provide regular pensions to journalists. However, the Odisha government has not yet taken similar steps for the welfare of its local reporters.
The Utkal Journalists Association promised to continue its active fight for a 10-point demand list. These core demands include the following points:
Many senior journalists and local press club presidents attended the meeting to share their views. Ramakrishna Rath, a senior journalist, coordinated the entire program smoothly. Biswajit Nayak, Bibhuti Bhusan Swain, Nihar Patnaik, Rabindra Kumar Dash, Anil Kumar Panda, Santosh Nayak, and Amit Patnaik successfully managed the event.
Bibhuti Bhusan Kar, the State President of the Utkal Journalists Association, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Pabitra Maharatha, an advisor to the association, joined the event as the guest of honour. Before the main discussion started, the members observed a moment of silence. They prayed for Debaprasad Mishra, the former president of the association, who recently passed away. Following this, Baidyabhusan Mohapatra, the district branch secretary, read the official report and started the discussion on the rights of media workers.
To mark Labour Day, hundreds of journalists at the Nayagarh meeting wore black badges as a sign of peaceful protest. Media workers across the entire state also wore black badges to show solidarity. Earlier, on April 29, journalists from all districts submitted official letters of demands to their respective District Collectors. They directed these letters to the Chief Minister of Odisha. Members in the Nayagarh district submitted these letters at the district headquarters and in all local blocks.
State President Bibhuti Bhusan Kar delivered a clear speech to the attendees. He reminded the current Chief Minister about past promises made to the press community. Kar expressed disappointment because the government has not introduced new welfare programs for media workers since taking power. He pointed out that many other states provide regular pensions to journalists. However, the Odisha government has not yet taken similar steps for the welfare of its local reporters.
The Utkal Journalists Association promised to continue its active fight for a 10-point demand list. These core demands include the following points:
- The government must restructure the state press accreditation committee.
- The state must provide official recognition to eligible journalists at both the district and state levels.
- The government must create and implement a formal Journalist Protection Act.
- The state needs to provide a monthly pension to journalists who are older than 60 years.
- The administration must establish an Odisha Press Academy.
- The government should build a dedicated facility for journalists in the state capital.
- The state must expand the Gopabandhu Health Insurance Scheme. This scheme should cover retired journalists, the parents of the beneficiaries, and their children over 25 years of age.
- The government must increase the death compensation amount for journalists to 10 lakh rupees.
- The state must include journalists from PRGI-registered newspapers in the health insurance scheme, even if they do not appear on the advertisement list of I&PR. The audience clapped loudly to support this specific announcement.
Many senior journalists and local press club presidents attended the meeting to share their views. Ramakrishna Rath, a senior journalist, coordinated the entire program smoothly. Biswajit Nayak, Bibhuti Bhusan Swain, Nihar Patnaik, Rabindra Kumar Dash, Anil Kumar Panda, Santosh Nayak, and Amit Patnaik successfully managed the event.
Posts
0 Comments